Day 137 – (AD 360) – Jim's Trek Part II – The Sequel – 22.0 Miles – More on My Schwinn 150

Good day,

And I had errands to run today, those that caused me just to shift some of my priorities. But I did get my cycling on my Schwinn 150 done. I cycled another 22.0 miles and I burned 660 calories. The rewards that I am definitely relishing, due to this crazy cycle and Trek thing, are the ones that assuredly compliment me on the way that I am now looking. Most definitely, Thank You. And right now my eyes are so dilated that I am just watching my screens encompassed in a haze and fog.

My location this morning was on the US-380 E east of Decatur, Texas and headed toward N County Line Road. I have now got 7,198.3 miles physically under my legs. Not bad for an almost old dude just shy of one week of beginning my 63rd year on this earth.

And I keep hearing ads on the radio for Pajamagram. When the announcer states that anyone can get Christmas pajamas for the whole finally including the cat and dog, I can only shake my head in disbelief. And yes I found the website. But it is the poor dog and cat. And yes I know that the models are paid for their time and hairspray, but just who in the hell buys Christmas pajamas for the whole family including the dog and cat? I am at a loss trying to get my head around whether we have we really come to this?

It is almost, not quite, but almost as bad as the Santa repartee that exited of the mouth of the Fox channel’s Megyn Kelly. Are we actually employing people to further dumb down the inhabitants on this planet?

Okay my blood pressure is down now. Actually I can actually say that I am glad that I have become obsessed with my cycling…for now, and after 360 days. And I was privy to hear a clip of a discussion and interview with Dr. Joel Fuhrman. (JK, good name.) Guess what I am doing is what he does proselytize.

My viewing pleasure this morning was a wee bit screwed up. That is, my Netflix connection on my Chromecast wasn’t working. So I actually watched the next episode of The 4400 on my iPad. It worked.

 

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Our Blumish Two and our Tampa Lightning quilts are mailed and on their way to the West Palm Beach and the World Quilt Show – Florida V. Work on our BW 1950 quilt has begun and it is amazing at the sizes of the pieces. All five bands of our new Vanderbilt afghan have been finished. Three have been edged.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 216 – Jim’s Trek – 20.7 Miles – Still in the State of Washington

Good Day,

I completed my miles this morning on my Schwinn 150. Today I finished 20.7 miles. Obviously I'm still in Washington; I’m located on US-2 W at the intersection of Armstrong Road SW. I’m headed west and I believe I can see mountains in the distance.

Based on my calculations I still have about 186 more miles to go to reach my final Seattle destination.

One is never too young to learn something old. In 1976 I got my first wok. Thanks BR. I’m still using the same one, now for 37 years…but I never considered myself in any way a polished expert, just an ardent and progressive learner. I am currently reading a very good book published in 2004, The Breath of a Wok, by Grace Young and Alan Richardson…and I’m learning something new, Wok Hei.

I’m in a waiting room psyching myself to have blood withdrawn via 6-inch needles. Two observations in waiting room... One, parents or grandparents with children, in waiting rooms this day need to teach the child that posted symbols for No cellphones or Gameboys with sound means NO sound. Second observation, I wonder what are the purposes of luminescent lime tennis balls on walkers…and do they glow in the dark?

After sitting in this woebegone waiting room and as I close in on the final miles of my Trek, I vow that for the next six months I will not be a vocal proponent of discussing my ailments or physical limitations, unless there is an MD designation attached to the listener's moniker. Everyone in the waiting room had such sad and drawn faces.

Construction of the inner top of Tampa Kaleidoscope quilt is now complete. We are now addressing the design and creation of the framing and borders. A quilting pattern is in the works that we feel will best highlight but not supersede the impact of the hexagons. Blumish Two is now hanging on our quilt wall. We are trying to decide what best type of quilting will develop and highlight both the positive and negative spaces.

Sea Foam afghan is progressing well. About a third of the width of the inner portion of the afghan has been completed.

This morning’s in-cycle viewing please was Episode 5 of Season 2 of Continuum. It is starting to get interesting now. The mystery is who is who is who aligned with whom. All I can say the secret to my keeping up with my cycling on a daily basis has been me watching the TV serials and movies. I definitely make sure that there are NO interrupting commercials.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 76 – Jim’s Trek – 20.0 Miles – Ultimate Trek Map

Good Day,

Today I am headed west along IN-68 W to Scales Road where I will be taking a right turn and heading north. Indiana-68 W is a nice quiet road to keep cycling on my Schwinn 150. My next goal is only about 5.0 miles away. And then my next goal is somewhere in the vicinity of 265 miles north; a quick point on my Trek to Seattle. My total miles on Day 76 are just about 1,171, and I’m now comfortable, sort of, with my 20.0 miles per day. It is taking me about 1 hour and 8 minutes daily.

The following Google map is a quick view of my Tampa to Seattle Trek. The map does not include all my side trips to each Interlake address goal. I've indicated approximately where I'm at on this Day 76. I’m working on the Interlake tangent map.

Today is Random Acts of Kindness Day. Only problem with this is that if I have to give up my coat today I think I’ll freeze… The wind blowing here in Tampa is the coldest yet. And tonight it is supposed to be colder. I suppose I could offer a quilt…

Just watched a couple of TV shows this morning during my Trek. I need to find a movie and/or serial to totally preoccupy my small brain.

I have completed the draft drawing, on canvas, of Cosmos' Moon. Watch for updates at Quilts SB.

Be healthy, and enjoy,

Jim

Day 75 – Jim’s Trek – Another 20.0 Miles – Now into Indiana

Good Day,

This morning I leave Kentucky. My 20.0 miles takes me across the Ohio River into Indiana. I am now located just south of Lincoln State Park and about 27.0 miles from my next Interlake address goal. I’m now looking for my succeeding Interlake goal on my Trek on my Schwinn 150 to Seattle. Think I found one akin to a car…

My stats –

Total Direct Miles to Seattle	To Date	TD Miles Remaining	% TD Miles Completed	Interlake Miles Left to Seattle	Weight (lbs)
3,301.0	1,150.6	2,150.4	34.86%	4,848.7	165.4

And right now I am just 10 miles from the town of Santa Claus, Indiana, population about 2,500. I could stop over and deliver my list. Maybe.

Today is National Almond Day… And yes there is an Almond Blossom Festival held on the last weekend in February in Ripon, California. Close enough. And if you’re in New York City you can get your almonds to celebrate at a number of Nut Shops.

I finished watching the second part of The American. Definitely a Clooney cat-and-mouse thriller… but I’m not sure that I was able to hone in on the reason for the story line. Stay tuned for my retorts on the next movie and or serial.

Be healthy, and enjoy,

Jim

Day 73 – Jim’s Trek – 20 More Miles – Dong Po and Thai Cucumber Salad Plus

Good Day,

My Trek’s 20 miles has me on US 60 Highway somewhere near Cloverport, Kentucky on the banks of the Ohio River. The recent population is somewhere in the vicinity of 1,300. On my Trek on my Schwinn 150 at times I seem to go back in time, especially with my work on A Genealogy Hunt… and I go looking.

The inserted image is of the 1928-29 Cloverport High School Sophomore Class discovered at the USGEnWeb Archives Project for Kentucky.  Wave to the cyclist as he passes by.

Total miles to date 1,110.6 and just about 67 miles to my next Interlake goal.

Decided that I’ve got to stop eating… I don’t mean that I need to fast or starve, but I find that with the cycling I’m eating one hell of a lot more, all the time. I decided that I better get back to my Asian cuisines. Last night I made, for supper, Dong Po which is marinated and braised Pork-belly, with Stir-fry snow peas, bean sprouts, and jalapeños and a side Thai cucumber salad. Damn was it good. Invitations are in the mail.

This morning I couldn’t find the next episode of Continuum. I began a lecture series – The Joy of Thinking: The Beauty and Power of Classical Mathematical Ideas. Yup, I’m still a nerd… The first lecture – Great Ideas that Bring Our World into Focus was an introduction… Boring to some, definitely not as fast paced as Continuum. But, and through the 30 minutes of the lecture, I kept thinking of my hidden agenda as an application to my Quilt SB designs. Okay, Okay even at my age, I still have to keep learning, exercising my brain and body.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 72 – Jim’s Trek – 20 More Miles

Good Day,

Today I’m headed northwest on KY-86 W toward Henry Head/Jesse Priest Road. It’s another 20 miles on my Trek on my Schwinn 150, and I’m still on my way. I’m now just about 87 miles from my next Interlake address goal.

My stats –

Total Direct Miles to Seattle	To Date	TD Miles Remaining	% TD Miles Completed	Interlake Miles Left to Seattle	Weight (lbs)
3,301.0	1,090.6	2,210.4	33.04%	4,908.7	165.4

Not much to write about today… Just getting my Trek done and checking what I need to do.

Continuum is back. No more Upstairs Downstairs. The episode of Continuum is based on the time paradox of what would happen if something in one’s past changed, would it affect something in that person’s future. Not sure, if this episode of Continuum answered the theory.

Be healthy, and enjoy,

Jim

Day 71 - Jim's Trek - Reese's Pieces

Good Day,

I think winter has by-passed Tampa this year. The Amarylls are beginning to bloom in the front garden and the oak trees are filling out.

Not sure if this is positive or what, but allowing my mind to be preoccupied with a visual stimulus of a serial on the TV certainly diminishes the boredom of the effort of the actual cycling on my Schwinn 150.

Today I completed another 20 miles. But I haven’t as yet completed it in one hour. I’m still a number of minutes over. My goal is to be consistent at 20 miles in one hour. And yes, I gotta speed up.

Today I’ve made it just past Long Grove Road along Hardinsburg Road. I believe I’m near someplace in Kentucky called Cecilia. I think it is one of those types of places that if you blink you've actually passed on through.

Local Natives performing Cecilia by Simon and Garfunkel

My miles to date are 1,070.6, and I’m still going. My belly is still at 38”, 6 inches less of when I started 71 days ago. I won’t tell you my goal in this area, but I’m just wondering if I will ever hit it. Not bad exercise for a 61-year old.

And today, Tuesday, February 12th is Extraterrestrial Culture Day. This celebration is officially acknowledged in New Mexico… you know the place where Roswell is located. But I have a mental issue with this one, not New Mexico of course, but with the fact that it is the celebration of the culture of extraterrestrials. Did I miss the memo that we had finally encountered alien beings? Was I asleep? Who signed up for space being culture? Wonder if this is somehow in tune with Mardi Gras in New Orleans? Just asking.

And I have another quandary. I understand the Red Beans and Rice, Jambalya, Chorizo and Seafood Gumbo for the Mardi Gras table… But what will I serve for an Extraterrestrial Culture Celebration? The only thing I can find is a recipe for an Extraterrestrial Cocktail – equal parts of Bailey’s Irish Cream, Midori Liqueur, Vodka, and High Proof Rum. A couple of these, and I will be cycling to Mars.

Well I’ve traveled through, on my Schwinn 150, the final contracted episode of Upstairs Downstairs. Germany has invaded Poland and I want more of the serial. Guess I’ll go back to my next episode of Continuum.

The top to Blumish Two is now complete, We are now machine appliquéing the navy blue strips to the top. Check out progress at Quilts SB.

Be healthy, and enjoy,

Jim

Day 70 – Jim’s Trek – And I’m Keeping at 20.0 Miles A Day

Good Day,

Today I completed my 20.0 miles on my Schwinn 150. I am headed in a northwesterly direction toward my next Interlake address goal point. Today’s location finds me on Old Elizabethtown Road just past Campbellsville University.

This morning my ride was over within my allocated time. My total to date 1,050.6 miles… (That is 1,691 kilometers Ms. M. up there in the cold hinterland.)

Even though I’ve been pretty constant with my weight, I know that I need to watch what I am eating. It seems so simple, and the cravings are much more with the daily cycling. I figured that I would start a straight out-and-out diet, Mr. M.S and Ms. M. W.. And I’m sure licking the plate would help a quicker reduction of my gut. But I reneged. I only made some rice and peas, and added just two Jamaican patties for supper last night.

Guaranteed Diet

Not so guaranteed, but so damn good diet.

Admiral the Hon. Sir Reginald Aylmer Ranfurly Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax, KCB, DSO, JP, DL alias Admiral Acronym is introduced as a character, sans actor, in Upstairs Downstairs. There is now intrigue at 165 Eaton Place as England is on the brink of war. And I believe that there is only one more episode.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim